Cradle structure for coin handling equipment



Feb- 4, 1954 M. P. HAvERsTlcK CRADLE STRUCTURE FOR COIN HANDLING EQUIPMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April so, 1962 3 .w m/ 1 M w LWN w x nu- 2 @A 9 4/ n a@ o M M D l )L C 9. uw E imm.

j A70/zwar Feb 4, 1964 M. P. HAvERsTlcK 3,120,309

CRADLE STRUCTURE EoE coIN HANDLING EQUIPMENT Filed April so, 1962 2 sheets-sheet 2 United States Patent 3,129,3@i CRADLE SIRUCTURE FR ClN HANDLING EQUIPMENT Merrai l. Haverstick, Si. Louis, Mo., assigner of one-hdi to The Vendo Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri, and of one-half to Coin Accepter-s, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Apr. 3i), 1962, Ser. No. 190,955 9 Claims. (Cl. 19d- 102) This invention relates to coin handling equipment and especially to apparatus used in coin actuated machines for separating coins into the various denominations thereof to permit totalization of the value of the sarne, and also capable of segregating genuine coins from spurious discs. The coin selecting apparatus has novel structure thereon for separating coins of one denomination and size trom coins of a second denomination and smaller size in an ethcient manner employing components having maximum tolerance characteristics, and at a practical cost.

Although the coin selecting structure of the present invention has utility for use in segregating many types of coins, the components have primary utility in a coin selecting device capable of handling quarters, nickels, dimes and pennies, for separating dimes from pennies and directing respective coins into coin accepting pathways therefor forming a part of the complete unit.

Coin selectors of the 4-in-l type have ben employed for a number of years and having structure thereon for segregating the coins into the different denominations thereof and directing the individual coins to corresponding coin accepting tracks or pathways for the same through the accepting equipment.

in prior coin separating apparatus capable of handling four dierent sizes of coins, it has been conventional to effect separation of dimes from pennies by providing an aperture in the main vertical Wall of the separating structure and of a size sucient to pass dimes but not pennies. in this manner, by directing both the dimes and pennies downwardly along one face of the upright Wall, a swingable member may be provided in the aperture to eiect movement of both dimes and pennies toward the aperture as the coins gravitate downwardly through the apparatus. However, only the dimes will pass through the aperture and therefore, such dimes are then directed to a coin accepting track for the same, whereas the pennies continue downwardly and are tested by further components designed to segregate valid pennies from spurious discs or the like. It can be recognized that the aperture in the main wall of the selecting apparatus must have extremely critical dimensions in order to pass only genuine dimes and to exclude pennies therefrom, and also problems are encountered in preventing the lower margin of each of the dimes engaging the lower portion of the wall around the dime aperture, and which would eiect hanging up of dimes in the aperture in a manner to block the separating apparatus and requiring removal of the same from a vending machine or the like, or manual scavenging of the coins in the usual manner.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide coin selecting apparatus provided with novel means therein for segregating coins of one size from coins of another size wherein it is required that one size coins be directed to a coin track on the rear face of the main upright Wall of the apparatus while the other size coins are diverted into a coin track therefor on the front face of the main wall, and with the requirement of an aperture of critical size for segregating the coins being completely obviated so as to increase the tolerances of the various parts, simplify the construction and assembly ot the over-all unit, and provide a device which is Mice much more eiiicient and accurate than prior structures of this type.

An additional important object of the invention is to provide coin selecting apparatus as described which is not only readily adapted for handling United States coins, but also may be employed to segregate various types of foreign coinage, without substantial modification of the over-all apparatus being required.

A further important aim of the invention is to provide coin handling equipment for separating coins of different size and value from one another wherein is included rotatable cradle structure having legs thereon disposed to receive a coin of one size and value to divert the coin into a pathway therefor upon rotation of the cradle, while coins of smaller size may pass through the legs of the cradle and thereby permitting association of a coin diverting element with the cradle to effect direction of the coins passing between the legs of the cradle to a coin track for such smaller coins in spaced relationship to the coin track of the coins diverted by the cradle. Also an important object or" the invention is to provide coin handling apparatus as set forth above wherein the coins passing through the legs of the cradle may be diverted by the element associated with the cradle, through an aperture of non-critical size in the main wall of the coin handiing equipment and in a manner such that there is no possibility of the lower margin of the coin being obstructed by the wall thickness of the aperture.

Other objects and important details of the present apparatus will become obvious or be explained in greater detail as the specification progresses.

ln the drawings:

FGURE l is a front elevational view of coin selecting apparatus embodying the novel structure of the present invention for separating dimes and pennies introduced into the apparatus;

FiG. 2 is a fragmentary, elevational view of the rear face of one oi the swingable gate units forming a part of the over-all apparatus illustrated in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, elevational view similar to EG. 2 and illustrating the manner in which cradle Structure for separating pennies from dimes, is rotated during diversion of a penny into the coin track therefor;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 3, and indicating the position of the penny cradle immediately prior to gravitation of the penny from such cradie;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 and indicating the disposition of a dime passing between the legs of the penny cradle and being diverted toward an aperture in the mairi wall of the coin handling equipment for direction to a coin track for the dime;

EG. 6 is a view of the dime separator as shown in FIG. 5 and indicating the relative disposition of the dirne as the same moves downwardly through an additional increment of travel during diversion of the dime toward the coin track therefor;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the rear faces of the penny cradle and dirne diverting element forming the subject matter of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the opposite faces of the cradle and dirne diverting element illustra-ted in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 9* of FlG. l and illustrating schematically the position of a penny as the same gravitates from the cradle structure therefor, but with the cradle being located in its normal unoperated position; and

FIG. l0 is also a vertical sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of FlG. l and illustrating schematically the path of travel of a dirne as the same passes through the separating structure.

a substantially horizontal position when cradle 58 is in the stand-by position of the same.

Although not illustrated in detail, it is to be recognized that .a plate member 78 is pivotally or otherwise mounted on the rear face of main wall 12 behind aperture 60 and normally spaced from the outer face of wall 12 to present a dime passage 80 leading to the dirne testing pathway of apparatus 10. Thus, it is to be pointed out that a dime track is mounted on the inner face of plate member 7S Ibelow aperture 60 and inclined in a direction to cause the dime to roll along a path across the lower section of frame 11 and through conventional testing structure.

The penny testing section of apparatus 1G includes a main plate 82 removably mounted on the lower portion of the front tace of frame 11 and provided with structure thereon presenting a .coin track or pathway lfor pennies across the front of the coin selecting apparatus and in generally parallel relationship to the path of travel of dimes across the rear face of ina-in wall :12. Since the actual construction of `the penny runway forms no part of the present invention, the same has not been illustrated in detail. However, it is to be noted that the plate S2 is provided with ear means thereon adjacent sfide wall 14 carrying a horizontal pin 84 Awhich serves as means for mounting a pair of downwardly extending plate elements 86 and 88. The plate 82 is in spaced relationship from the outer .face of wall 12 land presents a coin reject passage for pennies, while a shiftable deliection element 9i) is located lin the space between plate 82 and wall 12 for preventing movement of pennies into the rejection passage when the upper extremity of deection element 99 is located adjacent wall 12 -as shown in FIGS. 9 and l0. rPhe means vfor shifting element 9() in a direction to move the upper end thereof away from wall 12 may comprise a lever arm 92 pivotally mounted on plate 82 and adapted to be operated -by mechanism forming -a part of the handling equipment located in the vending machine or other coin controlled machine. Thus, when deflection element 90 is in the normal location thereof as shown in FIGS. 9 4and l0, a penny 74 gravitates from cradle 58 onto the inclined face of element 90 and is thereby caused to pass into the space between plate 82 and the inner Irace of plate element SS whereby the inwardly extending legs 96 on plate elment 86 and received in suitable apertures 98 therefor in plate element 88, cause the penny to be dedected to the right viewing FIG. l, for passage along a generally inclined path across the -face of plate 82. It is to be understood tha-t a chute member 190 may be provided on the outer face of plate S2 and in an inclined location across the width thereof, to define a coin pathway for pennies and to direct the same into the totalization mechanism of the coin handling equipment.

In operation, quarters Iand nickels introduced into the entrance of apparatus 1i) are diverted into respective coin pathways therefor by the cradles 28 and 42 whereas pennies and dimes entering apparatus pass between the legs of cradles 28 Iand 42 and thereby gravitate along the coin receiving pathway defined in part by projection 46 and nickel track 44. A penny 74 gravitating downwardly toward the cradle 58 engages the legs 7th: and 72a and thereby comes to rest on leg portions '70 and 72. Since the center of gravity of the penny is located to Ithe right of pivot pin 54 viewing FIG. l, the cradle S8 will rotate in a clockwise direction since the counterbalance 76 is not suFicient to retard rotation of the cradle under the weight of a penny thereon. As is clear -from FIG. 3, the penny 74 also engages a central portion of the extension 64 on element 56, and therefore vthe latter is rotated along with cradle 58 to move extension 64 out of the path of travel of the penny as the same falls from the leg 76a of cradle 5S. The penny then falls from cradle 5S onto the inclined surface of element 90 :and is directed to the penny chute 100 as previously described. Reference is made to FIG. 2 for a showing of the path of ltravel of a penny 74 as the same gravitates downwardly along the face of planar 5 section 36 from the coin entranceway ot the apparatus 10, to the cradle 58 for ltesting the size and weight of the co1n.

However, if a dime is introduced into apparatus 1G, the coin 162 travels downwardly along the same path as the penny illustrated in FIG. 2, and the dime will pass between the legs 76a and 72a of cradle 5S since the dime is of lesser diameter than a penny. FIG. 5 shows the disposition of a dime 162 as the saine commences to move between the legs 7 9a and 72a of cradle 58, and continued gravitation of the coin downwardly eiects diversion of the same by extension 64, through `aperture 6G into the dime passage 8i?. It is to be understood that conventional coin testing means -will be provided in association with the coin track or pathway rior dimes along the rear face of main wall 12, to determine if the ldisc which has been diverted through aperture 60 is authentic and of proper size 4and weight `as well as of required material.

In the event a coin or disc comes to rest on the legs 76a and 72a of cradle 5S and not of sumcient Weight to eect rotation of such cradle, the disc may 'be scavenged from legs 70a and 72a by the operator of the vending machine scavenging apparatus 19 in a conventional manner. Although the structure for effecting the scavenging operation is not detailed in the drawing, it is to be recognized that manually operable components are coupled to the gate unit 18 for shifting the latter toward scavenger section 24E- whereby the outer, inwardly directed legs thereon push discs or the like located on the legs of the various cradles, oli of the cradle supports and thereby etect return of the discs or coins to the front part of the machine through the coin return chute aligned with the lower left-hand corner of the apparatus 1t) as illustrated in FIG. 1.

There are many advantages inherent in the dime and penny separating mechanism of the present invention including the `fact that the apparatus 1) can be readily adapted for handling of various sizes of coins Whether of United States or foreign denomination, inasmuch as it is only necessary to properly space the legs of the various cradles in order to test coins inserted in the machine, for proper diameter and weight. For example, the legs 76a and 72a of cradle58 may be spaced in closer relationship or farther apart as required to handle coins of a size diierent from a United States penny. Furthermore, this alteration may be made without intertering with the main cast parts of the over-al1 apparatus and permitting the conversion of the unit at a minimum cost. Additionally, the relative locations of the legs on the cradles may be adjusted to Very close tolerances in a minimum of time and on each individual unit, whereas in prior apparatus, very close dimensions were needed in cast parts which were diiticult to obtain at a reasonable cost.

The penny-dime separator of apparatus 19 is also an improvement over prior units in that more accurate sizing of the coins is obtained by virtue of the fact that a positive determination is made of the genuineness of pennies, whereas dimes which pass between the legs of the penny cradle 58, are diverted through the aperture 6l) of noncritical size and with the dime being required to pass between such legs before entering the aperture. -ln this manner, the dime will be properly aligned with the aperture and also moved at an angle with respect to the normal path of travel of a penny gravitating from cradle 5S during rotation thereof. This prevents pennies from passing into the dime passage 80 under any conditions of operation, and also operates to preclude entrance of dimes into the penny pathway.

Also of importance is the construction of dime diverting element 56 so that the kinetic energy of the penny during rotation of the latter on cradle 58, serves to swing element 56 into a location with the extension 64 out of the path of travel of the penny, and thereby obviating other components for shifting element 56 to clear the 7 path, for pennies directed into the penny pathway from cradle 58.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed asV new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. In coin selecting apparatus for separating coins of one denomination and size from coins of a second denomination and smaller size and including structure deiining. an upright coin receiving pathway and a pair of coin accepting pathways for coins of respective denominations and extending from the -lower portion of the coin receiving pathway, the combination of a member pivotally disposed substantially at the zone of juncture of said pathways and including means thereon for engaging each of said one denomination Vcoins and adapted to divert the latter into the coin accepting pathway therefor as the member is pivoted about the axis of rotation thereof by said one denomination coins, said means being disposed to pass said second denomination coins therethrough; and a coin diversion element positioned to engage second denomination coins passing through said means on the member and divert the same into said coin accepting pathway for the same, said element being movable by a one denomination coin and with the member as the latter is rotated by said one denomination coin,

Vto a location out of the path of travel of the one dedenomination coins along a path substantially at a rightV angle with respect to the path of the one denomination coins as the latter are diverted into the coin accepting pathway therefor by said member.

3. Coin selecting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said element has an extension thereon positioned to`be engaged by coins of both denominations whereby coins of said second denomination are diverted by the extension into the coin accepting pathway therefor while coins of said oneV denomination engaging the extension cause the element to be moved with the member to shift the extension out of the path of each of the one denomination coins as the same are diverted into the coin accepting path therefor.

4. Coin selecting apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said element is mounted for rotation about a common axis with the member.

5. Coin selecting apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said member comprises a cradle having a main body mounted for rotation about said common axis, and a pair of generally parallel, horizontal. legs extending laterally from the main body and adapted to receive a coin of said one denomination thereon in bridging relation-- ship to said legs.

6. Coin'selecting apparatus for separating coins of one denomination and size from coins of a second denomination of smaller size comprising a normallyy upright wall having structure on. one face thereof defining an upright coin receiving pathway; iirst means on said one face of the wall adjacent the lower extremity of said coin receiving pathway presenting a first coin accepting pathway for said one denomination coins and extending downwardly from the coin receiving pathway; second means on the other face of the wall adjacent the lower extremity of said coin receiving pathway deining a second coin accepting pathway for said second denomination coins, said wall being provided with an opening therein adjacent the junction of said coin receiving pathway and the second coin accepting pathway for clearing. coins of said second denomination; a member pivotally disposed on said one face of the Vwail* substantially at the zone of juncture of the coin receivingY pathway and said first coin accepting pathway, said member being provided with spaced leg means thereon for engaging each vof said one denomination coins and adapted to divert the latter into said first coin accepting pathway as the member is pivoted about the axis of rotation thereof by said one denomination coins, said leg means being disposed to pass said second denomination coins therebetween; and a coin diversion element rotatably mounted on said one face of the wall for rotation about the axis of swinging movemen-t ofthe member and provided withl an extension thereon normally aligned with said opening in a position to eng-age second denomination coins passing between said leg means and thereby divert the same into said second coin accepting pathway, said extension being located to be engaged by a one denomination coin while the latter rests on said leg means `of the member to effect swinging of theV element with the member during rotation thereof by said one denomination coin, to` a location with saidv 9. Coin selecting apparatus as set forth in claim 8` wherein said element is provided with counterbalance means biasing said extension thereon toward said normal position of the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Paulson et al. May 13, 1952.V 2,880,836

Stewart Apr. Y7, 1959 Bertram Aug. 16, 192i 

1. IN COIN SELECTING APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING COINS OF ONE DENOMINATION AND SIZE FROM COINS OF A SECOND DENOMINATION AND SMALLER SIZE AND INCLUDING STRUCTURE DEFINING AN UPRIGHT COIN RECEIVING PATHWAY AND A PAIR OF COIN ACCEPTING PATHWAYS FOR COINS OF RESPECTIVE DENOMINATIONS AND EXTENDING FROM THE LOWER PORTION OF THE COIN RECEIVING PATHWAY, THE COMBINATION OF A MEMBER PIVOTALLY DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE ZONE OF JUNCTURE OF SAID PATHWAYS AND INCLUDING MEANS THEREON FOR ENGAGING EACH OF SAID ONE DENOMINATION COINS AND ADAPTED TO DIVERT THE LATTER INTO THE COIN ACCEPTING PATHWAY THEREFOR AS THE MEMBER IS PIVOTED ABOUT THE AXIS OF ROTATION THEREOF BY SAID ONE DENOMINATION COINS, SAID MEANS BEING DISPOSED TO PASS SAID SECOND DENOMINATION COINS THERETHROUGH; AND A COIN DIVERSION ELEMENT POSITIONED TO ENGAGE SECOND DENOMINATION COINS PASSING THROUGH SAID MEANS ON THE MEMBER AND DIVERT THE SAME INTO SAID COIN ACCEPTING PATHWAY FOR THE SAME, SAID ELEMENT BEING MOVABLE BY A ONE DENOMINATION COIN AND WITH THE MEMBER AS THE LATTER IS ROTATED BY SAID ONE DENOMINATION COIN, TO A LOCATION OUT OF THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE ONE DENOMINATION COIN AS THE LATTER IS DIVERTED INTO SAID COIN ACCEPTING PATHWAY THEREFOR. 